Externship Programme
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) at Birmingham City University works in partnership with the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan, to deliver an annual international human rights externship programme. Established in 2021 by Professor Amna Nazir, the programme provides selected LUMS law students with the opportunity to work directly with researchers at BCU Law’s Centre for Human Rights on live international human rights research and advocacy projects.
Externship Director
Background
Unlike a traditional placement, the externship embeds students within the research activities of the Centre. Externs undertake supervised legal and policy research, contribute to collaborative research projects and gain experience of the ways in which academic research can inform international human rights mechanisms and practice.
Since the programme was established, numerous LUMS students have participated in the externship, working with members of the Centre for Human Rights across a range of international human rights issues.
A distinctive feature of the externship is the opportunity for students to contribute to research with a clear pathway to external impact. The inaugural cohort undertook research on the protection of children's rights in Ghana. Their work contributed to the UPR Project at BCU's stakeholder submission for Ghana's Universal Periodic Review and was also presented at a research seminar to BCU Law staff and students. View the report.
Through projects of this kind, externs develop advanced research, analytical and collaborative skills while gaining first-hand insight into the relationship between academic research, civil society advocacy and United Nations human rights mechanisms.
The programme forms part of the Centre for Human Rights' wider commitment to research-led education, international collaboration and the development of the next generation of human rights researchers and practitioners.
Reflecting on her experience, LUMS extern Momina Khurshid said:
“This externship has been one of the most interesting research projects I have participated in. It was highly motivating to know that my work had the potential to impact actual governmental policy. As someone interested in international law, this externship not only strengthened my interest in the field but also encouraged my faith in its ability to improve human rights globally.”
Our externs
- Momina Khurshid (2021/22)
- Maria Shoaib Khan (2021/22)
- Bilquees Bano Vardag (2021/22)
- Haanya Channa (2022/23)
- Rohma Fatima Qayyum (2022/23
- Minahil Tariq (2022/23)
- Sakina Zulfiqar Ali (2023/24)
- Faqiha Amjad (2023/24)
- Zainab Ashraf (2023/24)
- Ammar Junaid (2023/24)
- Saffa Mustafa (2023/24)
- Haniya Rehman (2023/24)
- Musa Saeed (2023/24)
- Ali Abbas Gilani (2025/26)
- Jawairia Iqbal Hussain (2025/26)
- Samaha Chaudhry (2025/26)
- Yusra Rasool (2025/26)